Page 44 of Bad Girls Don't Marry Marines (Rock Canyon, Idaho 3)

He had been willing to throw in the towel yesterday and acquiesce to her wishes, but after the way she’d reacted to Mindy’s flirting, he didn’t think she wanted him to leave her alone. She kept repeating that she didn’t want to date him or anyone else, but why give him the cold shoulder for talking to another woman, then?

VAL FELT JUSTIN brush against her again, this time his fingers teasing hers, and wondered exactly what was happening between them. He teased and flirted and kissed her like he never wanted to stop, but was that it? Was he just trying to finish what they’d started when they were kids? Or maybe it was just the chase—that she hadn’t caved and gone out with him?

Or he could just like you.

Did she want him too, though? She had sworn off men and marriage, but if his feelings were real . . .

Dorothy’s words kept floating through her mind. Because when it finally does happen, they’ll know that it’s real.

“Here we are, folks. This is going to be our one-hour trivia event; just think of it like speed dating, but with a Jeopardy! feel. First of all, we’ll ask you to please leave your cell phones and other devices with your jackets at the front of the room. No one likes a cheater, after all,” Ned said, and for some reason his suspicious gaze fell on her.

What’s your problem, pizza face?

“This exercise is a test of how well you handle communication and problem solving during stressful situations. I’ll split you into teams of two and we’ll go for ten rounds of three questions each, but there will be only one category per round, so it makes things easier. When the round is over, the gentleman will get up and move on to the next table and partner. Any questions?”

No one said a word as they followed Ned up the creaky steps into the old saloon, which had been modernized into a large room with small white tables and chairs scattered throughout. A projection TV was at the front of the room, with a hipster-looking girl manning a laptop next to it. Pink tablecloths covered the tables, each with a flashing red buzzer in the center.

“I will be keeping track of round winners and my helper, Julia”—Ned pointed to the hipster girl, who scowled—“will be taking notes on the way teams work together . . . or don’t,” Ned said and began pairing people up.

Val nearly rubbed her hands together. She loved trivia.

“All right, you and you, table one; you go to table two; you, three . . .” By the time Ned made it back, there was only Trent, Justin, a tall girl with a shy smile, and Val. “You with her and you with him. Tables one and ten.”

Val followed Trent over to their table, hearing Justin muttering behind her.

As they sat down, Trent asked, “Are you any good at trivia?”

“Yeah, but I’m also really competitive.”

“Good!”

“I FIND IT weird that you’re here.”

Justin turned to his partner in surprise. “What?”

“I wasn’t being rude; it’s just that you don’t seem like the type of guy who needs help meeting girls,” the blonde said, her cheeks flushed as she lowered her eyes.

Justin smiled, liking her forthrightness. “There was a mix-up with a radio show contest. I was supposed to get concert tickets, but someone got my prize by mistake.”

She seemed to be considering his answer doubtfully. “Okay, but why did you come anyway?” she asked.

Justin leaned over. “Can you keep a secret?”

The woman snorted. “Who am I gonna tell?”

His smile widened at her sassiness and he pointed toward Val. “Because of that girl.”

She followed his gesture and a bright smile spread across her face. She wasn’t a natural beauty by any means, but when she smiled like that, Justin could see a sweetness shining through that lots of guys would be interested in.

“Oh, that is so romantic! I’m Layla, by the way,” she said, holding her hand out to him.

“Justin.” He shook her outstretched hand, and his attention shifted to Val, who was smiling at something Trent said.

“Just a fair warning: I suck at trivia,” Layla said, drawing his attention back to her.

Justin smiled reassuringly. “That’s okay. I’m competitive enough for three people.”

Ned walked to the front of the room, holding a remote in his hand. “All right, folks. Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, our trivia will have a romantic theme. Our first category is . . .” He hit a button on the remote, and words flashed across the screen too fast to read. Finally slowing down, they read “Songs for Valentines.”

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